Reno Air Races 2011

1. Reno Air Races 2011 Danger Close, and What Went Wrong

2. Me, box B47 A box row C box row B box row

3. Me, box B47 A box row B box row C box row

4. 10~15 second after impact Me, box B47 A box row C box row B box row Point of impact

5. What went Wrong: It is very clear to me that he lost a trim tab, pitched up hard at ~500mph, and blacked out. The plane continued up in an erratic CW uncontrolled barrel roll over the grand stands, (one sec from impact) nosed over toward the grand stands behind the box seats, (3/4 sec from impact) continued erratic roll toward my box, B47, (1/2 sec from impact) full throttle dive into box B43-44. I was listening on Race Frequency, he never call “mayday”. I heard him come in at full throttle. All pictures show head is not upright or slumped forward, consistent with being unconscious (blacked out). Picture showing missing elevator trim tab.

6. Head up, and clearly visable

7. Head forward, unconscious, blacked out Missing portion of his elevator trim tab

8. Head not visible. Likely forward, unconscious, blacked out No visible control inputs

9. No up elevator control input Head not visible. Likely forward, unconscious, blacked out I heard his engine at full throttle.